Tide-and-demand shuttle, Easter to end of October — checked 22 September 2026 · Sailings shown by frequency — exact times from the operator. · Representative sailings only — check the operator for today's full timetable
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Operator
Barmouth Ferry (boat: Ivy Lou)
Map – Barmouth Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult, single crossing | £4.00 |
| Child, single crossing | £3.00 |
| Dog, single crossing | £2.00 |
| Bicycle, single crossing | £3.00 |
Prices as published on the Fairbourne Railway's connecting-ferry page, checked 22 and 24 September 2026, charged per single crossing — there is no return ticket, each direction is paid separately, by cash or card. The crossing has no working website of its own: barmouthferry.com no longer serves a page. All fares in pounds sterling (GBP).
The Barmouth Ferry is a small open boat that crosses the mouth of the Mawddach Estuary between Barmouth's harbour and Penrhyn Point on the Fairbourne side, where the narrow-gauge Fairbourne Railway ends its line. There has been a ferry on this crossing for well over a century, long before the current road bridge existed further upstream, and it is still promoted today mainly through the Fairbourne Railway's own website rather than a standalone ferry operator site — the domain once associated with a dedicated Barmouth Ferry site no longer works, so the railway's page and the boatman's own mobile number are the most reliable current contact points.
Unlike most timetabled ferries, this one has no fixed departure times at all. It runs on days when the Fairbourne Railway is operating trains, broadly from Easter to the end of October, and only when the tide and weather allow — the exact landing spot on the Fairbourne side can shift with the state of the tide, and the crossing simply does not run outside that window, restarting again the following April. Because timings depend on the boat being at the right place when passengers arrive, and on the railway's own day-by-day operating calendar, there is no published grid of sailing times to quote; it functions as an on-demand shuttle rather than a scheduled service.
Fares are charged per single crossing, paid to the boatman on the day by cash or card: £4.00 for an adult, £3.00 for a child, £2.00 for a dog and £3.00 for a bicycle, with no return ticket since each leg is paid separately. On the Barmouth side, pick-up is at the ferry steps next to the public toilets on the harbour; on the Fairbourne side it links directly with the miniature railway's Penrhyn Point terminus, making a popular round trip out of riding the train one way and crossing back to Barmouth by boat, or starting the walk along the Wales Coast Path from one town and returning by ferry and train from the other.
- Arrive at the slipway a few minutes before departure; vehicle queues build quickly in summer.
- Check the operator's notices before travelling — tides, weather and maintenance affect sailings.
- Confirm accepted payment methods: several crossings are contactless-only.
Frequently asked questions
It only runs in season, roughly Easter to the end of October, and only on days the Fairbourne Railway is operating trains, weather permitting. There is no confirmed day-by-day list published, so call the boatman on 07976 579313 to check before travelling, especially outside peak summer weeks.
There is no fixed timetable. It operates as an on-demand tidal shuttle throughout the day whenever the connecting Fairbourne Railway is running, rather than at set clock times.
£4.00 for an adult and £3.00 for a child, per single crossing, paid to the boatman on the day. A dog costs £2.00 and a bicycle £3.00. There is no return ticket, since each direction is paid separately.
From the ferry steps next to the public toilets on Barmouth harbour.
Yes. It lands at Penrhyn Point, the seaward terminus of the narrow-gauge Fairbourne Railway, and the two services are promoted together as a way to combine a train ride with a short boat crossing back to Barmouth.
Yes. Dogs are charged £2.00 and bicycles £3.00 per single crossing, on top of the passenger's own fare.
It crosses the mouth of the Mawddach Estuary, where the exact landing point on the Fairbourne side can shift with the state of the tide, which is why the operator runs it on demand rather than to a fixed schedule.